The European Union (EU) trade commissioner Karel De Gucht announced Tuesday that the EU has decided to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of solar panels, cells and wafers from China.

EU imports of Chinese solar products would be subject to a punitive duty of 11.8 percent from June 6 to August 6, from when on, the duty will be raised to 47.6 percent, De Gucht said at a press conference.

"The decision follows a thorough and serious investigation and extended contacts with market players. As the market for the imports of solar panels in the EU is very large, it is important for this duty not to disrupt it," he said.

The EU reiterated that in order to "ensure the stability of supply of solar panels in the short term," the decision was made in two steps in order to cater to "exceptional circumstances." One week ago, 18 EU member states voted against a provisional tariff.

The Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy on Tuesday issued a petition to De Gucht appealing to halt the tariff. "The EU Commission's proposed import tariffs on solar panels directly harm the EU's fight against climate change," the petition letter read.

"They will make solar energy, a major tool in combating climate change, more expensive than dirty coal or nuclear," it added.

Jodie Roussell, director of public affairs, Europe at Trina Solar, told Xinhua that a tariff, even as low as 11.8 percent, would harm both Chinese manufactures and European companies. "One of our clients in Germany made an assessment showing a tariff rate of 15 percent would probably kill 85 percent of their business," said Roussell.

De Gucht stated that the action would "open the door to negotiate an amicable solution through 'price-undertakings' within a short period of time." Roussell welcomed the gesture but said an amicable solution would need "sincerity on both sides." Endi

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